Who is No. 1 quarterback? Answer Saturday

Updated 7:03 pm, Friday, April 27, 2018

Someone is going to have to take the first snap from center when Cal plays its spring game Saturday, but the coaching staff maintains that the starting quarterback could still change by the Sept. 1 season opener against North Carolina.

Saturday will mark the end of a 15-session spring competition between incumbent Ross Bowers, senior Chase Forrest, transfer Brandon McIlwain and redshirt freshman Chase Garbers, but the Bears are still mum about who’s leading the way.

“Ross has gotten a lot better, and it’s showed. All of them have,” head coach Justin Wilcox said. “… All of those guys have something different to work on to take the next step, but we’re not — at any position — worried about naming a starter.

“It’s just very competitive.”

Bowers, who completed 272 of 461 passes (59 percent) for 3,039 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, appears to be at the head of the class. The junior has gotten the majority of the first-team repetitions and has shown a greater command of the offense than in last year’s first go-round as the starter.

Offensive coordinator Beau Baldwin said Bowers is seeing things quicker, mastering protection changes and making strides on run-pass-option plays. Maybe most importantly, he’s often self-correcting before coaches can even point out mistakes.

“He has a really good response after something doesn’t go right,” Baldwin said. “He’s as competitive a guy as I’ve been around. Sometimes it would be so much that something would crush him on second down, and he might let it affect him on third or fourth (last year).

“He’s just as competitive now, but he’s been able to channel in on what’s important.”

Bowers, who played last season at about 185 pounds, is up to 205 — a boost that has translated into core strength and added pop on his passes.

Coaches say Forrest is playing better than ever, McIlwain adds a running dimension that the other quarterbacks can’t match, and Garbers has flashed throughout the spring, but it’s Bowers who is becoming the voice of a team trying to earn just its second bowl berth in a seven-season span.

“There’s nothing better than a 5-7 slap in the face,” Bowers said of falling one win shy of bowl eligibility last season. “That’s a lot of motivation to get better, and it’s been good for me.”

Saturday’s open scrimmage will have an impact on the quarterback competition, but Cal is ultimately only about one-third of the way into its prep for the season. The Bears will have another 30 practices, between training camp and the first week of the season, before kicking off against North Carolina.

“Whatever we set as a starting lineup (for the spring game), I guarantee it won’t be the same come North Carolina. It never is, so I don’t get too wrapped up in that,” said Baldwin, who wouldn’t bite on questions about possible separation between the foursome. “… Honestly, we wouldn’t open our mouths a whole lot about it, anyway. I know you’ve got to ask, and I know I’ve got to say: ‘No.’ That’s kind of how it goes. …